You have nurtured your cucumbers from seeds to plants.You want to get the rewards of your labor.Knowing when and how to pick cucumbers can increase your harvest yield and maintain the health of your garden.
Step 1: Find the cucumber seed packet or plant tag.
You can see how long it will take for your cucumbers to grow and how many days they should be ready to harvest.This will make it difficult to find ripe cucumbers.There are other ways to tell when your cucumbers are ripe, if you can't locate the seed packet or buy your seedlings from a garden center.After about 70 days, most cucumbers are ready to be eaten.
Step 2: Female flowers are on the vine.
Cucumbers have male and female flowers, but the first flowers to appear are male.There is a cucumber-shaped swelling at the stem of the flower.After the female flower appears, it will take a few days for a cucumber to grow to a mature size.Cucumbers can become bitter if left on the vine too long.
Step 3: Take a look at the length of your cucumbers.
Cucumbers will be ripe at different lengths depending on the variety.Cucumbers grow quickly with plenty of water, so keep an eye on baby cucumbers every day.Cucumbers are usually ready when they are about 15 cm to 20 cm long.Cucumbers can be found at 2 inches (5.1 cm) long.Some types of cucumbers are even longer than 10 inches (25 cm).
Step 4: Cucumbers are medium to dark green and firm.
The cucumbers should be squeezed to check for firmness.The cucumber's color might depend on the variety you are growing.Cucumbers may have a yellow hue.It is possible to determine the correct color of your cucumber by consulting your seed packet.
Step 5: Cut above the cucumber.25 inches (0.64 cm) to 1 inch from the vine.
Use your other hand to support the cucumber.The cucumber will become bruised if it falls.Some people can damage the plant by grabbing the fruit with their hands.You should wear gloves to protect your hands from the prickly cucumber.Cucumbers have thin skins and bruise easily so be careful with them.
Step 6: Pick what you want to use your cucumbers for.
Cucumbers are best used in salads.Cucumbers can be used to make a snack.Cucumbers are meant to be eaten fresh.You can find ideas on how to incorporate fresh cucumbers into dishes on the internet.
Step 7: Cucumbers should be stored or chilled as necessary.
Cucumbers can be wrapped in plastic or stored in a bag.This helps keep them dry.Cucumbers can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.Cucumbers can stay in the refrigerator for a couple of days if the temperature is not too cold.Cucumbers can be eaten for a year.